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Wedding Traditions

Sikh Wedding Attire.

The Anand Karaj — the Sikh marriage ceremony and its specific requirements for the groom and guests.

The Sikh Anand Karaj is conducted in the Gurdwara and has specific requirements that shape the dress of the groom and all guests: heads must be covered, and the dress must be respectful and appropriately formal. The Sikh groom's outfit is built around the dastar (turban), which is tied by the groom's family as part of the ceremony preparation, and the sherwani or achkan beneath it. Understanding what works with the dastar — and what doesn't — is the first design consideration for a Sikh wedding outfit.

Photograph to follow

The Sikh groom — sherwani, dastar and colour coordination

The Sikh groom's sherwani must coordinate with the dastar — the turban colour and style is often chosen to complement or match the sherwani. The most traditional pairing is an ivory or cream sherwani with a matching or contrasting dastar. A rich brocade sherwani in gold on ivory pairs naturally with a deep red or gold dastar. A simpler silk sherwani in cream pairs with an ivory dastar for a more understated effect.

Beyond ivory and cream, Punjabi Sikh grooms also wear sherwanis in rich colours — deep red (associated with auspiciousness in Punjabi tradition), gold, and occasionally rich jewel tones. The colour choice should be made with the dastar colour in mind, as the two together are what the photographs will show as the groom's overall look.

Guest dress at the Anand Karaj — what to wear in the Gurdwara

All guests at a Gurdwara ceremony must cover their heads — providing a dupatta, pocket square or small head covering at the entrance is common, but it is more respectful to come prepared with appropriate head covering. Shoes are removed at the entrance; choose socks without holes. The dress should be modest and formal — bare arms and very short garments are not appropriate in the Gurdwara.

Indian formal dress — a fine kurta-churidar combination, a bandhgala, or a quality suit — is appropriate for guests at the Anand Karaj. The Gurdwara setting calls for subdued, respectful colours rather than very loud or attention-seeking outfits. Rich but not ostentatious is the right register. White is avoided by men, as it is associated with mourning in Punjabi tradition.

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